Safety engine-starter.



W. R. CLARK. SAFETY ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13,1912 I Patented June 2, 1914.

2 SHEETS-$11321 1.

1,09sAs0 pwjvzsma LVVENTOR: v j/Li v I ATTORNEY. I

W. R. CLARK.

' SAFETY ENGINE STARTER APPLIOA'IION FILED MAY 13,1912.

LOQSABO Patented June 2,1914

2 sums-SHEET 2.

, WITNESSES: INVENTOR- 7' tion.

UNITED fs'ra'rns PATENT OFFICE;

WILLIAM R. CLARK, 01? MUNCIE, INDIANA, ASSIGNUR '10 CLAIR-K CRANK COMPANY, 0F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

SAFETY ENGINE-STARTER.

incense.

Specification of letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1914.

Application filed May 13, 1912. Serial No. 696,861.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, VV LLIAM R. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Muncie, in the county of Delaware and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Safety Engine-Starter, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to mechanical means designed to be actuated either by si1nple crank power or by means of a lever for starting explosion or internal combustion engines, the invention having reference more particularly to an engine starter of the above mentioned character that may be o'per- I ated safely and without risk of being in-, jured in case of back-firing or when the engine starts in reverse to the proper direc- An object of the invention is to provide explosion enginesof automobiles with simplified and improved starting mechanism of such construction as to be adapted to be actuated by the operator either'when on his seat in the automobile, or when on the ground, as may be most convenient.

. Another object is to provide cheaply constructed, reliable and durable starting apparatus, whereby danger to the operator due to baclcfiring may be eliminated.

A still further object is to provide engine starting apparatus of such construction as to be adapted to be applied to automobiles and their engines already in use.

"lVith the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in law proved engine starting mechanism compris ing a starting shaft provided with a crank and also lever actuated means for turning the shaft, and so constructed that either one of the actuating appliances may be omitted if desired; means for clutching or coupling the starting shaft to the main shaft of the engine, and means for automatically disconnecting the starting shaft from .the main shaft when the latter is rotated backward. I The invention consists also in the novel parts and in the combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter particularly described speciiiedin the accompanying claims.

Referring to the a front elevation an antoni and the improved engine starter;

transverse section of the starting shaft and rear elevation of apparatus thereon; Fig. 3, a fragmentary perspective view of one of the parts of the apparatus; Fig. 4, a fragmentary top-plan of an automobile frame and explosion engine thereon, to which the improved starter is applied; .lfig. 5, a section of the starting mechanism. on the plane of the line A A in Fig. 1; Fig: 6. a plan of one of the parts of the safety uncoupling apparatus; Fig. 7, a section of one of the parts of the housing of the coupling and uncoupling apparatus; Fig. 8, a fragmentary perspective viewof the end of the main shaftpf the engine towhich a part of the coupling apparatus is connected; Fig. 9, a central longitudinal section of the housing and ournal-box of the starting shaft; Fig. 10, a fragmentary perspective view of one of the parts of the starting mechanism;

and uncoupling apparatus and housing thereof; 1F ig. 12, a sectional view similar to the preceding view omitting some of the parts of the mechanism, and ig. 13, a fragmentary perspective view of the starting shaft and coupling and uncoupling device thereon.

Similar reference characters throughout the drawings indicate corresponding ele ments or features of construction in the different figures thereof.

Well known parts of an automobile or similar motor vehicle comprise frame bars 1 and 2, a front axle 3, a (lash-board f, an explosion engine 5, and a radiator 6, the explosion engine having a forwardly projecting main'shaft 7.

in practically carrying out the objects of the invention, a cylindrical coupling head Sis provided and it is bored out and fitted onto the end portion of the main shaft i so to project forwardly beyond the plane of the end of the shaft and the head is secured to the shaft preferably by means of a rivet 9. The projecting portion of the wall of the-head 8 has one or more recesses therein, there being preferably two undercut recesses 10 and 10' extending inward from the extremity of the wall. inclined guide faces 11 andll that extend at obtnse angles to the face of the extremity being formed at one'sidc of the recesses to constitute uncoupling Wedges, the entrance to being relatively wide in order ion device to readily enter the recess. The wall at the end of the under-cut side of the recess has short inclined faces 12 and 12.

automobile frame, such as a cross-bar 16.

The journal box has a cylinder 17 connected to one end thereof by a continuous flange or head portion 18 to constitute one part of a housing, the cylinder having a flange or ears 19 on its end portion. A collar shaped head 20 comprises a part of the housing and is bored out to receive the shaft 7, and may be placed on the shaft before the head 8 is secured thereto. The head 20 has a counterbore 21 of the required diameter to receive the head 8 and it has also a ball-race 22 at the bottom of the counterbore. Bearingballs 23 are placed in the ball-races 13 and 22 but may in some cases be omitted or substituted by lubricating grease, and the rear end of the head 8 permitted to turn in contact with the bottom of the counterbore 21. The head 20 has a fiangeor cars 24 thereon correspondin to the flange or ears 19. The interior of t e housing is provided with ratchet-teeth that collectively extend about the head 8, and this is preferably accomplished by providing an annular plate 25 on one side of which a series of ratchet-teeth 26, 26" are formed, the plate being placed over the head 8 with its opposite side against the forward side of the head 20, and the plate has bolt-holes 27 therein through which bolts 28 extend, the plate being placed against the end of the cylinder 17 and is fixedly secured to the cylinder and also to the head 20 by the bolts which extend through the flanges or cars l 9 and 24.

A starting shaft 29 of suitable length is provided which is rotatably supported and is movable longitudinally in the journal box 14 in 'alinement with the main shaft 7,.

the journal box being supported in the required position, and when at rest the starting shaft is somewhat separated from the main shaft. the starting shaft 29 that is adjacent to the main shaft is provided with a transverse pivotal pin 30 which extends transversely beyond opposite sides of the shaft to constitute twg studs on which two rollers 31 and 31' are mounted respectively, and also two push'bars similar to ratchet-pawls are mounted .on opposite end portions res'pec tively of the pivotal pin or studs. .The

push-bars extend obliquely toward the ratchet-teeth and are provided with springs BB'and 33' which are each secured to the The rearward end portion of.

push-bar by a suitable securing device to press the push-bars against the ratchetlecth when the starting shaft is pushed toward the main shaft. The springs have integral tail extensions 35 and 35 that pro-' duce the desired spring tension when moved into contact with the ratchet-teeth, the extensions and the push-bars being carried away from the ratchet-teeth when the starting shaft is moved away from the main shaft to rest position. When the starting shaft is moved rearwardly substantially to the main shaft ,7 and rotated in the direction of the arrow thereon the rollers enter the recesses 10 and 10 in order to clutch the starting shaft to the main shaft for starting the latter, and in this relative arrangement the push-bars are in contact with the ratchetteeth 26 and slide over the teeth while the rollers are carried into the recesses. If now the starting shaft 29 is being turned in the required forward direction and the engine backfires and turns the main shaftin the reverse direction, the movement tends to also 'turn the starting shaft 'backwardbut the ends of the push-bars are stopped by engagement with the ratchet-teeth 26, and the push-bars being at an oblique angle to the plane of rotation of the pivotal pin 30 and the plane of the ends of the ratchet-teeth, the clutch members of the main shaft acting on the rollers 31 or clutch device of thestartin shaft, force the push-bars to SW away rom the coupling head so as to carry 'i the rollers out of the recesses until they reach the inclined guides 12 and 12, which thrusts the starting shaft away in the clear so as to completely disconnect'it from the main shaft. Preferably the rearward end of the journal box 14 has a recess 36. therein to receive a projection 37 on the starting shaft adjacently to the pivotal pin 30, to

revent the starting shaft from turning idly when not in use in case a starting crank is rigidly secured to the-starting shaft, so as to maintain the crank in a convenient position.

A crank arm 38 is mounted to turn on the starting shaft 29 between a collar 39 and :1

ratchet wheel-40 which are secured to the shaft and prevent movement of the arm longitudinally of the shaft, the-arm 38 having a pawl 41 therein to cptiperate with the ratchet wheel for turning the shaft forwardly. It is obvious, however, that the.

arm 38 may be fixedly secured to"the shaft' thereon.

In order to hold the starting shaft away I journal box 14:, the arm 44 preferably being if desiredv and it has a crank handle 4,2

receiving the cam when the shaft 29 is moved 5 starting shaft 29 to enable the spring to yieldingly hold the shaft forwardly.

lVhen it is-desired to actuate the starting shaft by means'of lever power an abutment 46 is suitably supported rigidly, and this to may be accomplished by means of a connecting arm 47 fixedly connected to the abutment and also to the cross-bar 16. it. sleeve 48 is bored so as to receive the shaft 29 and permit either one to slide longitudinally rela ive tothe other and permitting the shaft to rotate in the sleeve, the sleeve being fitted .into a suitable opening in the abutment so as to slide therein.v The sleeve has,

an external longitudinal groove 49 therein into which extends a spline 50 that is secured in the opening'formed in the abutment to prevent rotation of the sleeve. lhe longitudinal movement of the sleeve rcarwardly is limited by a suitable stop which preferably consists of a collar 51 secured to the forward end of the sleeve against the abutment. The rearward end of the sleeve has a flange 52 thereon which carries a cylinder having a smooth and 5t constituting a guide. A recess 55 is formed in the wall end '54 and has inclined sides 56 and 57 constituting cams. A coil spring 58 extends I about the sleeve 48 and is seated against the abutment and also. against the flange 52 for yieldingly holding the came in normal position. A s-ollar 59 issecured to the shaft adjacent to the rearward endof the sleeve. A pulley 60 has'a hub 61 which is rotatably mounted on the shaft29 at the rearward side of the collar, and a ratchet-wheel 62 is secured to the shaft, at the rearward side of the hub. A pawl 63 is mounted on the pulley to cotiperate with the ratchetwheel for turning the shaft in forward direction. The forward side of the pulley has a cylindrical buffer 64 thereon adapted to seat against the end 5% of the cylindrical head 53 and it has a projecting V-shaped cam 65 thereon adapted to fit into the recess 55, the recess to its forward position and forces the shaft rearward so as to clutch with the main shaft when the pulley is rotated. The spring 43 has an arm 66 on its forward end thatis provided with a book 67 which is inserted through a hole 68 and hooked to the pulley 60. for retracting or rotating the pulley backward after it-has been rotated in forward direction to rotate the starting shaft. The spring 43 as will be seen in th performs two functions and is a what weaker than the spring 555. it c e 69 is wound one or more time about the pulley leads away from of the cylinder and extends from the guidethe undcrmost portion of the pulley, and it is connected to a suitable lever 70 mounted on the automobile frame rearward of the plane of the dash-board 4, the cable being 1 guided by a suitable number of sheaves 71 and 72 suitably mounted on the frame. The

lever may be variously designed in detail and arranged as may be most convenient.

in order to lessenthe cost, in some cases the lever actuated mechanism may be omitted if desired, the starting shaft being actuated by means of the hand crank.

in practical use force may be ap lied to the crank arm 88 while the sha t 29 pushed rearward so as to become clutched to the main shaft, the main shaft being partially rotated as is required until explosions occur in the engine, the shaft 29 turning freely in the sleeve t8 and in the hub of the pulley. When the clutched starting shaft is rotating forwardly if turned by the pulhey the cam 65 is guided against the end 54 of the head 53, and if now the engine starts backward and causes the push bars to force the starting shaft forward, the cams and also the sleeve 48 are forced forward, and the spring 58 is slightly compressed and again forces the sleeve rearward when the pulley is retracted to rest position, when the cam 65 again enters the recess lVhen the pulley is started forward by means of the cable 69 the cam 65 is forced out of the recess and guided against the guiding end 54 until one revolution of the pulley takes place. It may be designed that the pulley shall turn farther than one complete revolution and in this case the movement is rapid and the cam 65 is carried past the recess without entering, the pressure of the spring 43 being relatively slight. W hen the starting shaft is actuated by the hand crank the cam 65 simply moves out of the recess and back again without being: carried about the shaft, it being understood that the cable is of suitable length to limit the backward rotation of the pulley. Other results of the operation of the .inechanism will. be fully tion of the construction and function of various parts thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is i l. A safety engine-starter including a ro tat-able main shaft provided on its end with an annular projection having an undercut recess in its end face, one side of the recess being inclined relative to the face, afixedly' supported collar extending about the main shaft and having ratchet-teeth on its face, and a starting shaft rotatablyf supported to move toward or from the main shaft and having; stud thereon that is carried into or out the recess, the stud having" a push-bar the? sprinaprcsscd toward the ratchet-teeth, the pnshbar being in contact with the ratchet-teeth when the stud is carried into the recess to rotate the main shaft by means of the'starting shaft in one direction, the main shaft on rotation" in the opposite direction causing the push-bar to stop a ainst one of the ratchet-teeth and force t e stud out of the recess.

' '2. A safety engine-starter including a 1'0- tatable main shaft having a clutch member thereon, a rotatable and longitudinally movable start-ing'shaft in alinement with and adjacent to the main shaft and having a clutch device thereon for cooperation with the clutch member to rotate the main shaft in forward direction, a support for the starting Shaina fixed a'butment, a sleeve on-the starting shaft and slidingly supported in the abutment and having a cam thereon, astop for limiting the movement of the sleeve toward the clutch device, a spring seated against the sleeve'and the abutment yieldingly forcing the sleeve toward the clutch device, a ratchetwheel and a collar secured to the starting shaft, a pulley rotatable on-the starting shaft between the ratchet-wheel and the collar and having. a cam thereon to cotip'erate with the cam of the sleeve, a pawl mounted on the pulley to coiiperate with the ratchet-wheel for rotating the starting shaft in forward direction, a cable connected to the pulley for turning it in forward direction, and a spring coiled on the .starting she-ft and connected to the pulley'and also to the starting shaft support, the spring being tensioned for retracting the pulley and-also for forcing the clutch device away fro'm'the clutch memher, the cams acting on forward movenient "of the pulley to force the clutch device in contact with the clutch member. 7 a

3. In an engine starter, the-combination with-a1 rotatable main shaft, of an annular head 'seciired to and projecting beyond the shaft," the end of the headhaving a recess therein, a fixedly'supported housing adjacent to the he'ad and having a series of teeth fixed therein that collectively extend about 1 thehead, a starting shaft rotatably supported to;move longitudinally to or frdni the head and having a pivotal pin thereon, a roller and also apush-bar mounted on the pin, the roller being movable into or out of said recess, the push-bar extending obli pely toward the plane-of theseries of'teet and a spring-secured to the push-bar and haying a tail extension to be carried to the teeth for forcing the push-bar-to the teeth.

4. In an engine-starter, the combination with? a fixed journalbox-and a fixed abutment, and a rotatable'main shaft having a clutch member, of a sleeve slidingly and non 'rotatably mounted in the abutment andyiel'dingly spring-pressed toward the joura nal box, a stop for limiting the-movement of the sleeve toward the box, a starting shaft rotatably mounted in the journal box and 5. In an engine-starter, the combination I with'a rotatable main shaft, a ,fixed journal,

box, and a fixed abutment, of a sleeve mounted to move longitudinally in thezabutment toward or' from the main shaft and having a flange on one end, a cylinder supported on the flange and having a- V-shaped recess 1n its end, a spring on the sleeve seated against one side of the abutment and the flange, a stop device fixed on the oppositeendot" the sleeve and'normally in contact with the opposite side of the abutment, a starting shaft rotatably mounted in the journal; box and the sleeveand movable longitudinally there in, coiiperating clutching means onlthemain shaft and the starting shaft enabling the lata collar secured to the startingshaft, a pal ley rotatably mounted on the starting shaft between the ratchet-wheel and the collar, a

pawl carried by the pulley to codfierate with the ratchet-wheel, a cam carried 'y'thepulley to be guided on the end'of the cylinder or into or out of the recess, a spring coiled about the starting shaft and having an arm ter to rotate the former, a ratchet-wheel and secured tothe journal box and also anoarm connected to the pulley, and a crank arm on the starting shaft. 7

6. In an en inc-starter, the combination with a rotatab emain shaft, ahead on the shaft having a recess therein; and a fixed collarextendingabout the shaft and having a series of teeth thereon, of a rotatable starting shaft in a'linemnt with andmovable toward or'from the main shaft, a pivotal pin mounted transverselv in the starting shaft, a roller and also, a'.pushbar"car1 ied by the pin, the'roller movable into'therecess for rotatin the-main shaft in one direction, the push-bar extending obliquely toward the plane of the series of teeth, an a spring connected with and holding V the push-bar in contact with the teeth only when the roller is in the recess;

In testimony whereof, aifixlmy signature in presence of two'witnesses, j a .7

l 7 WILLIAM R. CLARK.

Witnesses: v- 'E. T. SILvms, P. A. HAvnLIoK.

Copies of this patent may he obtained arrive cents each, by .w 8iil1i1!%r3fi, 33. G.

addressing the commissioner of intents, 

